Pictured (L-R): Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Billy Strings.

Willie Nelson‘s annual Outlaw Music Festival Tour is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year, kicking off May 13 with a huge lineup of performers.

The 2025 tour features a revolving lineup of legends and superstars including Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Sheryl Crow, Turnpike Troubadours, The Avett Brothers, Wilco, The Red Clay Strays, Lake Street Dive, Charles Wesley Godwin, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, Trampled By Turtles, The Mavericks, Sierra Hull, Waylon Payne, Madeline Edwards, Lily Meola and more.

This milestone year of the tour is the biggest yet, with 35 stops across 22 states featuring vibrant festival experiences and special tributes to its storied history. This year’s tour will visit Phoenix, Spokane, Cincinnati, Memphis, Saratoga Springs, Charlotte and more with a stop in Franklin, Tennessee at FirstBank Amphitheater on June 25.

Tickets go on sale to the general public Feb. 7 via OulawMusicFestival.com and ticketmaster.com, and VIP packages will be available. Citi card members will have access to presale tickets beginning tomorrow (Feb. 4) until Feb. 6 through the Citi Entertainment program.

“What an amazing lineup to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Outlaw Music Festival Tour. I can’t wait to join friends and family in bringing this celebration to the fans we love,” says Nelson.

2025 Outlaw Music Festival Tour Dates:
5.13.25 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
5.15.25 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
5.16.25- Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
5.18.25- Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
5.20.25- Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
5.22.25 – Spokane, WA – ONE Spokane Stadium
5.24.25 – Ridgefield, WA – Cascades Amphitheater
5.25.25 – Quincy, WA – The Gorge Amphitheatre
6.20.25 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
6.21.25 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
6.22.25 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
6.25.25 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
6.27.25 – Memphis, TN – Radians Amphitheater
6.28.25 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
6.29.25 – Ridgedale, MO – Thunder Ridge Nature Arena
7.5.25- Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
7.6.25- The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Presented By Huntsman
7.25.25- Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
7.26.25 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
7.27.25 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park
7.29.25 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
8.1.25 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
8.2.25 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC
8.3.25 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
8.8.25 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
8.9.25 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
8.10.25 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
9.5.25 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater
9.6.25 – Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
9.7.25 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
9.12.25 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
9.13.25 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
9.14.25 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
9.19.25 – East Troy, WI – Alpine Valley Music Theatre

This week’s MusicRow Weekly covers key moments in the industry. Click here to see the full edition.

This week’s newsletter includes the heartbreaking loss of Ben Vaughn, President & CEO of Warner Chappell Music Nashville. Vaughn passed away Thursday morning (Jan. 30) at the age of 49, leaving the Nashville music community in shock. Over his decade-long tenure, he made a lasting impact by overseeing all creative and commercial activities at Warner Chappell Nashville, while also being a dedicated advocate for songwriters and their rights.

Dolly Parton announced that her Dolly: An Original Musical will premiere at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville this summer before heading to Broadway in 2026. She also revealed Dolly U, an immersive educational experience tied to the musical’s world premiere.

Morgan Wallen unveiled plans for his highly-anticipated fourth studio album, I’m The Problem, along with a 10-city, 19-date stadium tour that has fans buzzing.

After nearly 40 years with BMI, Alison Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Distribution & Publisher Relations Officer, will retire at the end of March. Additionally, Audacy’s David Field announced he is stepping down from his role as President/CEO and as a member of the Board of Directors.

Big Machine Label Group has appointed Tim Reynolds as Vice President of Digital Marketing. ShopKeeper Management promoted Crystal Dishmon to Co-Manager of Miranda Lambert, while Laura Spinelli was elevated to Day-to-Day Manager for Lambert.

Several new signings were announced this week. Braedon Barnhill inked a record deal with The Valory Music Co. Country band Clay Street Unit signed with Monument Records in partnership with Sony Music. Hudson Westbrook joined River House Artists in a publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing Nashville. Universal Music Publishing Nashville signed Dalton Davis to an exclusive global publishing agreement, while Ed Williams entered an exclusive publishing agreement with Jody Williams Songs and Warner Chappell Music. Lenny Pey secured a joint global publishing deal with Endurance Music Group and hit songwriter-producer Jordan Schmidt.

This week’s My Music Row Story featured Red Light Management’s Zach Sutton, who guides the careers of award-winning, multi-Platinum artists Jordan Davis and Riley Green, along with rising stars Preston Cooper, Georgia Webster, Scott Wolverton and Bizzy.

In addition, the latest MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart is included, with Jelly Roll earning the No. 1 spot with “Liar.” Explore more chart data here.

MusicRow Weekly is delivered every Friday, featuring Nashville’s top music industry news, exclusive interviews, song reviews, radio and songwriter charts and more. Sign up for free here.

Rosanne Cash & Country Music Hall of Fame Host Conversation with Nashville School of the Arts Students

Pictured (L-R): NSA teacher Ryan Murphey, Rosanne Cash, several NSA students and Adam Ollendorff, senior manager of music programs for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Rosanne Cash recently participated in a conversation about her life, work and creative pursuits with nearly 40 students from the Nashville School of the Arts songwriting and stage band classes. The interactive conversation was coordinated by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and Cash in support of the museum’s educational mission. Students engaged in the conversation and posed questions about Cash’s songwriting process and experiences throughout her career. Cash was joined by Adam Ollendorff, the museum’s senior manager of music programs.

J4 Signs With LuckySky Music

Pictured (L-R): Bill Warner (President / LuckySky Music), Kirsti Manna (VP & Creative Director / LuckySky Music), Joseph Wandass IV (J4), Tori Martin (LuckySky Music artist and songwriter) and Jason Engelman (CEO /LuckySky Music)

Songwriter/artist/producer Joseph Wandass IV, better known as J4, has signed with LuckySky Music as a staff writer. He received his first major label cut on pop artist Kechi Okwuchi (from America’s Got Talent) in 2022. As an artist, J4 has shared the stage with Josh Turner, Michael W. Smith, Lee Greenwood, Darryl Worley, Walker Hayes and others. Along with being an artist J4 graduated with a Master’s of Music from Belmont University and also teaches as an Adjunct Professor of Recording Industry Studies at Middle Tennessee State University.

‘Nashville Music History’ Series with Dr. Don Cusic To Launch In February

Don Cusic

The Metropolitan Historical Commission is presenting the Curb Lecture Series “Nashville Music History” with Author and Historian Dr. Don Cusic at RCA Studio B on Wednesday night beginning Feb. 12. Each lecture will last about an hour and 15 minutes and allow for audience questions and comments.

The $10 per session registration fee supports the Nashville Historical Foundation and its work to support historic preservation projects and community education. Space is limited and registration for one or all sessions may be made through Eventzilla. Registration is also available at the door, if space allows. For additional information, contact scarlett.miles@nashville.gov or the Metro Historical Commission 615-862-7970.

Jordan St. Cyr Inks With Hsquared Management

Hsquared management’s Leigh Holt and Kelli Haywood with Jordan St. Cyr (center)

Hsquared Management has signed Juno Award-winner, singer-songwriter Jordan St. Cyr.  The endeavor marks the company’s second joint signing since industry veterans and entrepreneurs Kelli Haywood and Leigh Holt launched their new company last summer. Known for his No. 1 song “Weary Traveller” as well as other hits like “Fires” and “Rescue,” St. Cyr released his second album, My Foundation, last year. St. Cyr will be on the “Storyteller Tour” throughout 2025 and is working on new music also coming this year.

“Jordan brings a rare combination of genuine artistry and roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic that immediately resonated with us,” share Haywood and Holt. “As a former contractor who built his music ministry from the ground up, he understands the value of authentic relationships and putting in the hard work needed to create something meaningful. His proven success and heart for connecting with people make him a perfect fit for our roster. We’re excited to build alongside him in this next chapter of his career.

Kacey Musgraves. Photo: Courtesy of Interscope Records & MCA Nashville

Kacey Musgraves has released a new mini-documentary detailing the making of her critically acclaimed album Deeper Well, available on YouTube.

Titled Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well (The Making of the Album), the film offers an inside look at Musgraves and her co-producers, Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk, as they worked for months at New York City’s iconic Electric Lady Studios. The documentary provides an intimate glimpse into the creative process behind the album, along with footage of Musgraves braving the frigid landscapes of Iceland to film the music video for the title track.

Deeper Well has earned four nominations at this Sunday’s (Feb. 2) Grammy Awards, including Best Country Album, Best Country Song, Best Country Solo Performance and Best Engineered Album – Non-Classical. Musgraves also received a fifth nomination for Best Americana Performance for her collaboration with Madi Diaz on the song “Don’t Do Me Good.”

In 2023, Musgraves scored her first Hot 100 No. 1 hit with “I Remember Everything“ with Zach Bryan. The song went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Country Duo or Group Performance in 2024, making Musgraves the only artist ever to win Grammy Awards for Best Country Album, Best Country Song, Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Duo or Group Performance. “I Remember Everything“ also made history as the first country music duet in 40 years to top the Hot 100, following Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ “Islands in the Stream“ in 1983.

Musgraves recently wrapped up her “Deeper Well World Tour“, which saw sold-out performances in cities around the world, including Nashville, London, Los Angeles, New York, Amsterdam, Brussels, Chicago and more.